Adam Sanchez Jr., charged with deliberate homicide in the death of Cascade County Sheriff's Deputy Joe Dunn, made an initial appearance on the charge in Chouteau County Justice Court on Thursday morning.

Sanchez, already held on a $2 million bond for violating release conditions in a case stemming from an armed robbery in November, saw his total bond increase to $5 million after Cascade County Attorney John Parker asked that bond for the homicide charge be set at an additional $3 million.

The hearing saw a dozen attorneys, law enforcement officers and reporters pack into a small room in the Chouteau County Sheriff's Office, where Chouteau County Justice of the Peace Susan Spencer more routinely sees defendants facing misdemeanor charges or residents involved in small-claims court actions.

In pushing for the $3 million additional bond, Parker argued that Sanchez, involved in a high-speed chase involving deputies and Montana Highway Patrol troopers, was on a "drug-fueled rampage" at the time of Dunn's death.

"He should not be released, your honor," Parker told Spencer.

A probable cause affidavit signed by Great Falls Police Detective Keith Hodges, the case's lead investigator, says that a review of dashboard camera footage from patrol cars involved the pursuit of Sanchez indicates that he "knowingly swerved" to hit Dunn, who was outside his patrol vehicle for reasons that have not been made clear by authorities.

Dunn was transported to the Benefis East Emergency Room, where he died as a result of his injuries.

"At no point did it appear that Sanchez employed his brakes," the document states.

Public Defender Matt McKittrick, representing Sanchez, countered that "there are constitutional prohibitions against excessive bail," and asked that his client's homicide bond be set at $500,000 in parallel to the previously set $2 million, meaning the total bond amount would remain the same.

Apart from answering basic questions, Sanchez did not speak at the hearing.

He is being held at the Chouteau County Jail because the Cascade County Detention Center is operated by the sheriff's office, for which Dunn served.

Sanchez's mother, Susan Sanchez, contacted the Tribune on Monday saying she was frustrated with the way her son has been treated by public opinion.

"Adam's not just a meth addict," she said. "There's two sides to every story."

Sanchez was also adamant that her son was not on meth at the time of the chase, saying she saw him sober only hours earlier.

"He wasn't high," she said. "This time he was not using drugs."

Since he had last been released from jail at the end of July, Susan Sanchez said, her son had been harassed both by law enforcement and drug contacts.

"He's been afraid for his life," she said. "I told him, 'If you're not doing anything, you don't have to worry about it.'"

"Where do we go now? Look what it's escalated to," she said. "It's a tragedy for everybody."

Reach Staff Writer Eric Dietrich at 791-6527 or edietrich@greatfallstribune.com. He can also be followed on Twitter at @GFTrib_EricD.